ABB announced the company has been awarded the contract to deliver an 800 kV transmission link in India, from the northeastern part of the country, to the city of Agra, covering in total a distance of 1728 kilometers. The link project is worth about USD 900 million, and it is to be used mainly for the purpose of connecting the numerous hydropower plants located in the northeastern parts of the country, to the national power grid.
Geothermal energy as a viable option for adding more power generation capacity in South Africa, is slowly but steadily gaining momentum. Growind energy prices and focus on sustainability issues have prompted the formation of the South African Geothermal Association (SAGA). According to people involved in the creation of SAGA, the organization's objective will be to create a forum-like environment in which participants will share and discuss topics related to geothermal development and implementation, but also take lessons from other geothermal associations which reside in established and developed markets, where this form of energy has been used for decades. Another role of SAGA in the future will be to establish and uphold standards and represent the interests of the geothermal industry in South Africa.
Uruguay's national electricity company (UTE) has awarded the contract to build and operate a 50 MW wind farm in this South American country to Abengoa. The wind farm will be located in the Tacuarembó region, and will supply about 50,000 people with clean electricity.
Earth Heat Resources, an Australian geothermal development company, and Drake & Scull Water and Power, part of Drake & Scull International (based in Abu Dhabi, UAE), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly explore, bod for and secure geothermal development opportunities in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).
In a recent statement given by the head of the Serbian Wind Energy Association (SEWEA), Maja Turkovic, investors are ready to put to work about EUR 1.5 billion for the development of about 1000 MW of wind energy projects in this country. She emphasized problems still exist in legislation and regulatory areas for renewable energy development, which is said to have slowed down wind energy development significantly.
Q-Cells is entering the UK market with its products and technologies for the solar photovoltaic power industry. The company will be opening an office in the UK, in London, to oversee operations in this growing European market for solar energy.
OPDE and ArcelorMittal Construcción España, part of ArcelorMittal, world's largest producer of steel and iron, have entered into a commercial agreement which will result in the two companies collaborating in the solar PV sector. The companies will collaborate on developing rooftop mounted solar power installations on industrial buildings and car parks.
Mitsubishi Corporation announced the company has acquired a 15% stake in four CSP plants totalling in 200 MW of installed capacity (one plant is still under construction). The power plants are owned by Acciona, and are all located in Spain. This acquisition makes Mitsubishi the first Japanese company to own a stake in the concentrated solar power market. Each of the four plants has 50 MW of capacity.
GDF Suez (France) and Quiñenco Group (Chile) have formed an energy group in Paris, with focus on dealing with renewable energy and other unconventional sources of energy. The establishment of this bi-national energy group was sponsored by the energy ministers of both countries. The chairmen of the newly established group will be Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of GDF SUEZ, and Guillermo Luksic, President of the Quiñenco Group.
PNE Wind announced the company has opened an office in Edinburgh, Scotland, marking the official entry of the wind development company into the Scottish wind energy market. PNE Wind UK is planning to invest strongly in Britain over the next three year period. The company has already identified several sites in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Grampian and the Scottish Borders which are good for wind farm development.
